Kanti Balar is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Surat, Gujarat. He is known for his provocative and inflammatory anti-Muslim speeches, resulting in violent communal clashes and unfair arrests of Muslims.

In September 2024, Balar gave a provocative speech in the presence of the police, saying: “No Muslim will be spared, I am with you, those who have been caught will not be released, we will not engage in stone pelting, and we don’t want to do this either.” 

Balar gave the speech after stones were allegedly thrown by children, reportedly from Dalit and Muslim backgrounds, at a Hindu festival procession, resulting in violent communal clashes. This led to widespread vandalism of Muslim-owned shops, vehicles, and a mosque.

A fact-finding report by the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) of Gujarat, found that the case might have been fabricated to target Muslims and that members of Hindu organizations and Balar further inflamed the situation when Balar allegedly said, “We will not tolerate the hooliganism of Muslims.” 

As tensions rose, police, allegedly dressed in civilian clothes without nameplates, forcibly entered Muslim homes late at night, beating and detaining 27 Muslim youth, while abusing the women and children. The police also stole video footage from CCTV cameras which recorded their actions. The administration also demolished tea and snack carts and temporary shops belonging to Muslims. No action was taken against Balar or the police involved.

Balar regularly posts about BJP campaigns and events, praising the BJP government and its leaders on his social media.